Marine facilities



Feb. 28, 1967 s. K. FULTON 3,306,053

MARINE FACILITIES Original Filed Jan. 12, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 5. KING FUL TON ATTORNEY? Feb. 28, 1967 s. K. FULTON 3,306,053

MARINE FACILITIES Original Filed Jan. 12. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 26 INV7IENTOR 3. KING FUL 01v 4 BY MM ATTORNEYX Feb. 28, 1967 s. K. FULTON 3,306,053

MARINE FACILITIES Original Filed Jan. 12. 1961 7 Sheets$heet 3 INVENTOR 5. KING FULTON BYWMW ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 s. K. FULTON 3,306,053

MARINE FACILITIES Original Filed Jan. 12. 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 5'. KING FULTON BYWMW ATTORNEY/5 Feb. 28, 1967 v s. K. FULTQN 3,306,053

MARINE FACILITIES '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 5. KING FULTON BYMMW ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 s. K. FULTON 3,306,053

MARINE FACILITIES Original Filed Jan. 12. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR 5. KIA/6 FUL TON ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1967 Original Filed Jan. 12, 1961 S- K. FULTON MARINE FACILITIES 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 (METAL) 97 Fl 6. 32 W INVENTOR 5. [fl/V6 FULTON ATTORNEY United States Patent 2 Claims. or. 61-48) This application is a division of my application Serial No. 82,298, filed January 12, 1961, and entitled Marine Facilities.

The present invention relates generally to marinas and more particularly to facilities for docking small boats, yachts and the like, these facilities including floating concrete docks, dock to piling assemblies, dock to dock coupling assemblies, dock to sea Wall assemblies, gangplanks having devices for assembly to a sea Wall, fenders, expansion bolts for assembling these to docks, sea walls and the like.

Briefly describing the invention, provision is made for a plurality of interconnected floating docks which may be coupled to piles, to each other, or to a sea wall, in various configurations. The individual floating docks are fabricated of cast concrete, having therein expanded polystyrene beads or other cellular plastic material, the proportion of concrete to cellular material being such that the docks float, and the exterior of the docks being entirely made of concrete, which is virtually ageless in any type of water, which requires substantially no maintenance, and which has extremely long life under operating conditions. Individual docks may be secured together and buffered from each other by means of rubber block elements which are held in compression by stainless steel cables extending between pairs of docks on a line extending through the blocks, the cables being under tension. The location and shape of the coupling or buflering element is such as toprovide or permit only relative flexing of two adjacent docks about a fixed axis under the action of sea or waves, and no other relative motion. The material of which the coupling is fabricated is rubber, neoprene or the like tough resilient material. The coupling provides shock absorption and the location thereof provides a gangplank extending between docks, which is flush with the surfaces of the docks, enabling personnel readily to pass from dock to dock.

The problem of permitting the docks to rise and fall with the tide, and to move under wave action with respect to pilings, is; solved by providing a cable extending about each pile and having ends secured to the docks. The cables are fabricated of stainless steel, and are provided with a large number of rubber or plastic beads which rotate freely in the cable and hence can roll on the pile and thus permit free motion of the cable vertically along the pile. In addition, steel cables having thereon rotatable rubber or plastic beads extend along an edge of a dock, or extend between two docks at their junction, and act as a fender or bumper in respect to the piles. Suitable piling assemblies may be provided for dock ends, dock sides or dock-to-dock locations.

A novel gangplink assembly is provided, which secures one end of a gangplank to a sea wall, or other rigid structure, while permitting the other end of the gangplank, resting on a dock, to rise and fall With the tide or under wave action. The end of the gangplank which is secured to the sea wall is provided with a resilient torsion mount.

In order to prevent impact of boats against the ends, corners or sides of the docks, suitable fenders are provided which are fabricated of molded plastic, and are air filled, and which extend outboard, above and below the docks "ice upper surface. These are secured along upper sides of the docks, or at corners, whereby impacts are absorbed which occur due to overhang of a boat moving downwardly, or from a boat moving transversely toward the dock. In addition, for boats having relatively high freeboard, vertical shock fender assemblies are provided, which are capable of absorbing impact and transferring same to the dock through shear mounts, regardless of the location of the point of impact of a boat against the shock fender assembly, or the angle of impact.

In addition, provision is made for securing dock assemblies to sea walls, bulkheads or fixed docks. These assemblies include salt water resistant fittings, stainless steel cables, torsion inserts and shear mounts invented to absorb shear in three dimensions, to eliminate stress and strain on both sea wall and dock, for every random motion of a dock under the action of the sea. In order to permit rapid and long lived assembly of elements to a concrete dock or the like, provision is made of a novel expansion bolt, the expansion element of which is a rubber or neoprene tube. Such bolts can be assembled to holes precast in the concrete clock.

It is well known that floating dock equipment undergoes great stress and strains in being constantly subjected to waves, surges, changing winds and tides, sudden impact by boats in docking or while moored at the docks, collisions, accidents, improper use of clock lines, and the like. It has been found that these factors play havoc with conventional equipment and that maintenance becomes a tremendous problem and a great expense.

It is a feature of the present invention to utilize floating concrete docks which are unsinkable, which have solid weight under foot, which utilize no moving parts, which contain no sharp corners, no overhang, no wood, no steel parts, no moving parts, and the like, so that they require no pumping, no maintenance, no painting and no rust removal.

It is a broad object of the invention to provide novel docking facilities which shall be capable of sustaining the stresses and strains of sea motions, wind, waves, changes of tide, collision and the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel floating docks fabricated externally of solid concrete and rendered buoyant by means of internally located cellular plastic material.

It is still another object of the invention to provide devices for coupling two or more docks to a dock assembly, the latter being constituted of rubber blocks which are maintained under tension, and which are so dimensioned and positioned with respect to the docks as to permit buckling of an adjacent pairs of docks, about a line extending parallel to a dock end, but no other relatives motion. An assembly of docks thus acts as a unit, like a single waterlogged log, except for the possibility of buckling action.

It is still another object of the invention to provide novel facilities for securing floating docks to piling, while permitting free vertical motions of the docks and denying the possibility of impact of the docks against the piling.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of devices for securing floating docks in seal walls, for securing gangplanks to sea walls, the latter including a combination of torsion and compression resistant fittings which minimizes strain on the wall and dock while permitting certain motions of the dock under the action of the sea.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel insertion bolt capable of being secured to a suitable opening in solid concrete, wood, steel, or other solid material.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of novel air filled bumpers for fioating docks.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of fittings for securing docks to piling, while preventing impact of the docks against the piling or complete restraint of the clock when the latter are subjected to sea motions.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel vertical shock mounted fender assembly capable of preventing impact directly against the docks of relatively large boats having high free board.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of novel shock mount connectors for gangplanks which provide torsional resilience in coupling one end of the gangplank to a sea wall, a permanent dock, or the like and which permit free vertical motion of the dock under the action of tides, waves and the like while retaining the fixed positions of the docks in terms of spacing and orientation with respect to the sea wall.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a dock assembly secured to a sea wall and anchored to piling. The assembly includes corner and vertical bumpers, dock to dock assemblies, dock to piling assemblies, and other features of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view in plan of a concreate dock according to the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a view in section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view in plan showing a dock to dock connector assembly in place between two docks.

FIGURE 5 is a view in section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an end view of a dock.

FIGURE 7 shows in section a portion of a dock including a bead type piling fender.

FIGURE 8 is a view in elevation of a dock edge fender.

FIGURE 9 is a view in section taken on the line 99 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 9A is a view in plan of a modification of the fender of FIGURE 8 as applied to a corner of a dock.

FIGURE 10 is a view in section taken on the line 1010 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a view in section taken on line 11-11 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 12 is a view in section of an expansible assembly bolt utilized for assembling parts to a concrete dock.

FIGURE 13 is a view in section of a modification of the bolt of FIGURE 12.

FIGURES 12A and 13A are views in section of modifications of the bolts of FIGURES 12 and 13, respectively.

FIGURE 14 is a view in transverse cross section taken on the line 14-14 of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is an end view corresponding with FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 16 is a view in longitudinal section of a table tensing element utilized in FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is a view in plan of an end mooring unit for securing a dock to piling.

FIGURE 18 is a view in plan of a side mooring for securing two docks to piling, the mooring elements extending between the two docks.

FIGURE 19 is a view in section of a bead element utilized in the structures of FIGURES 17 and 18.

FIGURE 20 is a view in plan of a gangplank secured to a sea wall by means of torsion couplers.

FIGURE 21 is a side view of the gangplank assembly of FIG. 20.

FIGURE 22 is a view in rear elevation of a vertical bumper secured to a main dock.

FIGURE 22a is a view in front elevation of a shear mount, according to the invention.

FIG. 23 is a plan view of the bumper element of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24- is a view in perspective of the bumpers of FIGURES 22 and 23.

FIG. 25 is a view in plan of a dock to sea wall assembly wherein the dock extends longitudinally parallel to the sea wall.

FIGURE 26 is a view in plan of a variant of the arrangement of FIGURE 25 wherein the longitudinal dimension of the dock extends perpendicular to the sea wall.

FIGURE 27 is a view in plan of a torsion element for coupling a dock to a fixed structure such as a sea wall.

FIGURE 28 is an end view of the structure of FIG- URE 27.

FIGURE 29 is a view in section taken on the line 29-29 of FIGURE 27.

FIGURE 30 is a view in plan of a shear mount according to the invention.

FIGURE 31 is a view in section taken on the line 3131 of FIGURE 30.

FIGURE 32 is a view in section taken on the line 3232 of FIGURE 30.

Referring now specifically to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, the reference numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 denote docks of a dock assembly, which are coupled together by dock couplers 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. The dock 6 is secured to end pilings 12 and 13, and a gangplank 14 extends from a sea wall 15 to the dock 6. The docks 1 and 3 are secured to end pilings 16 and 17, and further pilings 13 and 19 are provided at the junction of docks 1 and 2 and 2 and 3. The several docks are provided with edge fenders as 20 and with vertical fenders as 21. The dock couplers such as 7, 8, are maintained in compression by tension cables 22, 23, and dock to pile assemblies 23a are provided for securing the docks to the pilings while permitting vertical motion of the docks due to tide or due to the action of sea waves, surges and the like. The several components referred to are described in detail hereinafter.

FIGURE 1 illustrates one typical arrangement of an array of docks and their location with respect to a sea wall, but a wide variety of specific arrangements may be resorted to, limited only by the imagination of the architect.

The separate docks as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are fabricated of concrete, being cast as a solid mass surrounding expanded polystyrene beads, as 26, so that the concrete forms a shell 27 surrounding the polystyrene. The polystyrene beads form a cellular mass internally of the dock, when expanded, providing, however, only one convenient form of cellular plastic. Other forms may be utilized. Recesses such as 28 may be cast in the concrete, to permit installation of interdock couplers. Typical length for a dock is 20 feet, width 6 feet, and depth 29 inches, the corners being normally rounded as at 29, and a one foot radius, and a free board of approximately 12 to 16 inches is provided, by utilizing suitable proportions of the polystyrene or other cellular plastic, which, being much lighter than water provides buoyancy for the concrete shell. Docks may be assembled in end to end relation or in end to side relation, but such assembly introduces the problem of providing simultaneous translational rigidity and torsional resilience between two docks, enabling buckling at the junction of the two docks, but preventing any other relative motion of the docks.

It has been found that these objectives can best be secured by providing rubber blocks intermediate adjacent docks, located in the recesses 28. Such a rubber block is indicated at 30, FIGURE 4, and may be constructed of solid rubber or of rubber with holes extending vertically therein or therethrough, in the form of a rectangular block fitting into the recesses 28 formed in the ends of the docks. The recesses 28 do not extend vertically to the bottom of the docks nor laterally out to the sides, and accordingly the recesses 28 restrain the rubber block 3%) against sidewise or downward motion. The weight of the blocks and friction against the concrete restrains the blocks against upward motion.

Each block is maintained in compression by means of cables 32, FIGURE 15, the cables being fabricated of stainless steel and being maintained in tension by means of fittings 33, 34, provided one on each dock. Each fitting is secured -to the clock by means of four expansion bolts, as 35, 36, 37, 38, which extend into holes precast in the concrete of the docks.

The fitting 33 includes a hollow cylindrical section 39 which extends horizontally. Within the cylinder 39 and extending therethrough is a rubber tube 40, through which extends cable 32 in snug fitting relation. Welded to the end of the cable is a threaded element 41, the end of cable 32 extending into a suitable recess 42 in the element 41 and being welded thereto. A pair of nuts 43 threadedly engage the threaded end of the fitting 41, externally of cylinder 39, and bear against an end closure wall 44 of the cylinder 39. The fittings 33 and 34 may be duplicates, so that upon pulling up on the nuts 43 for each of the fittings, the cable 32 may be placed under tension, and thereby the rubber coupler may be placed under compression.

The cable 32 is located vertically midway of the block 30, so that the docks can buckle with respect to a point midway vertically of the block 39, without placing additional stress on the cable 32, or relaxing the tension existing therein, i.e. the upper portion of the rubber block 30 may be further compressed while the lower portion is released, or, vice versa, the lower portion may be compressed while the upper portion is released, without materially changing the tension in the cable 32. At the same time the cable 32 prevents increased separation of two coupled docks, while the block 30 maintains substantially a minimum separation therebetween, since it is rigid in compression. The rubber tube prevents friction between the cable or the cable end fitting 41 and the cylinder 39 or any other portion of the fitting 33.

Under the action of surges, waves and the like, it may be that one dock will tend to rise while the other is tending to fall, or it may be that one dock will tend to twist about its longitudinal axis while another is twisting in the opposite direction or sense, and in general a very wide variety of relative motions may tend to occur. It has been found that the simple device above described, i.e. the resilient block 30, maintained under tension by two cables properly located with respect to the block, is capable of preventing all these motions, except buckling on a transverse axis, without damage to any elements of the structure. No substantial relative lateral motion of two adjacent docks can take place, because of the block 3b is very hard laterally due to its considerable length laterally. Similarly, no vertical motion of one dock relative to another can take place because great frictional resistance exists between the rubber block and the dock. No twisting about a vertical axis can take place, of one dock with respect to another. The docks therefore, although they are coupled units, and not a unitary structure, move as if they constituted a unitary structure except for one freedom. This freedom is a freedom to move slightly in a buckling motion about a transverse line extending symmetrically through the block 30.

Since an entire dock assembly tends to lie dead in the water, due to the rigid coupling of the separate docks, Waves or surges passing along the dock assemblage do not cause unsteadiness of the docks, but rather pass along the dock assemblage without moving any part of it, except in respect to the above described buckling motion or mo tion of all docks as a whole.

Docks or dock assemblages may be secured to piling, as 50. It is necessary to prevent impact of the docks against the piling, and also to permit the docks to ride up and down the piling freely, in response to rise and fall of the tide, or under action of the sea. To this end, an arcuate stainless steel cable 51 is secured at its ends to fittings 52, bolted by expansion bolts 53 to a dock, as 3. The cable 51 extends about the pile 54!. A large number of freely rotatable beads 55 are mounted on the cable, the beads being fabricated of neoprene or suitable plastic. In addition a linear cable 56 extends between the pile and the dock 1, or docks, as 1, 2. This cable, 56, as does the cable 51 has multiple beads thereon. The latter cable acts as a buffer between the pile 50 and the dock, as 3. In the case of a dock end, a recess 57 is provided in the dock end, to provide space for the cable 56 and its beads, so that the latter may rotate freely. On the other hand, where a linear cable 56 extends between adjacent docks as 1, 2, the curvature of the dock corners provide the requisite space. The fittings 52 may duplicate the construction of FIG. 16.

It is a problem, in docking boats, that the boats impact the docks repeatedly, under the action of waves. It is therefore usual to provide fenders on boats or docks, or both. In the present system, two types of fenders are employed.

In one type of fender, illustrated in FIGURES 8, 9, 9a, 10, 11, an inflated flexible hollow structure is employed, which in cross section is circular, subtending 270. The remaining 90 is occupied by an edge (FIG. 8) or corner (FIG. 9a) of a dock. The tender may be made of neoprene, rubber or the like and may be inflated in any convenient way to a small pressure, suflicient to maintain the shape of the fender, under the expected impacts.

On the upper edge of a dock, as 1, is provided a metallic right angled structure 60, moulded within a tube 61, subtending in arcular cross section an arc of 270 and completed by right angled structure 60, the arms of the latter constituting radii of the tube 61, and being covered with a coating of the same material as arcuate section 61, and being integral therewith. The arms of structure 60 extend beyond the confines of arcuate section 61, and in the extensions 62 so formed are provided holes 63, through which suitable expansion bolts extend, to secure the fender to the dock.

In FIGURE 9a is shown a fender 65 suitably shaped to conform to the corner of a dock. In FIG. 11 is shown a variant of metallic structure 60', identified as 66, which is corrugated to add strength, whereas structure 60 is flat.

In order to provide a docking facility on water, par ticularly salt water, it is essential that devices be provided for bolting components and fittings to the dock by bolts which are impervious to the action of the water, and which cannot be extracted from the docks even under extreme forces. In addition, it is desirable that the bolts be readily removable and insertable, when desired, since fittings may require replacement. In accordance with the present invention, expansion bolts are utilized for this purpose, which utilize rubber as an expansible element. A conventional nut and bolt is associated with a neoprene or rubber tube, through which the bolt extends. The tube fits loosely in a hole precast in the concrete dock structure, until the bolt is rotated with respect to the nut, or the nut with respect to the bolt, whereupon the tube is compressed longitudinally between the nut and the head of the bolt and expands laterally. The expansion is sufficient to effect a frictional union of the tube with the inside of the hole. The tube, on application of suflicient force to the bolt, fills the space between the bolt and the hole, so that water cannot leak into the hole, and deterioration of the bolt and of the rubber cannot occur.

In FIGURE 12 is illustrated one form of an expansion bolt according to the present invention. In FIG- URE 12, the reference numeral denotes a circular hole of uniform diameter extending into the body of a mass of solid material, such as concrete, 71, which in the present specific application of the invention is part of a concrete dock. The reference numeral 72 denotes an object such as a fitting or a plate, which may be fabricated of metal, and which is to be secured firmly against the surface 73 of the concrete dock. Plate 72 is provided with an opening 74, through which extends into the hole 70, a bolt 75 having a head 76 and a nut 77, the latter engaging a threaded end 78 of the bolt 75. Surrounding the bolt 75 is a rubber or neoprene tube 80 having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the hole 70 and having an inner diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the bolt 75 before the bolt is expanded. A metallic insert 81 is provided within the tube 80, which extends about twenty percent of the distance into the tube, and which is provided with a flange 82 covering the end of the tube 80. The insert 81 is free within the tube 80, so as to be movable with respect thereto, but fits snugly therein. At the lower end of the tube 80 is provided a metallic cylinder 84 which surrounds and is bonded to the lower end of the tube 80, and which is shaped to include an extension extending below the end of the tube 80, the latter being shaped to conform to the nut 77, and constituting a device for preventing turning of the latter. The cylinder 84 is bonded to the exterior of the rubber tube 80.

In operation the bolt 75 is run through the opening 74 and the plate 72 and the rubber tube 80 extended thereover, the head 76 of the bolt 75 being turned a few times to threadedly engage the nut 77. Thereafter the assembly is placed within the hole 70, and the head 76 of the bolt 75 is turned sufiiciently that friction develops, to prevent turning of the tube 80 within the hole 70. As the nut 77 is pulled up by rotation of the head 76 of the bolt 75 the rubber tube 80 is compressed longitudinally and therefore expanded laterally until it fills the hole completely for all positions intermediate the lower surface of the plate 72 and the upper limit of the cylinder 84. The concrete has a certain roughness, and accordingly when sufiicient pressure has been exerted an immovable bond is created between the rubber and the concrete.

When it is desired to remove the expansion bolt of FIGURE 12 the head 76 of the bolt 75 is rotated in reverse direction, which forces the nut 77 vertically downward, stretching the rubber tube 80, and consequently causing it to contract laterally away from the wall of the hole 70. It then may be removed readily by the fingers.

In FIGURE 13 of the accompanying drawings is shown a modification of the structure of FIGURE 12, wherein the head of the bolt 75 is located within the cylinder 84 of the nut 77 is located exteriorly of the hole and above the plate 72. The mode of installation and the mode of operation of the structure of FIGURE 13 is obviously analogous to that of FIGURE 12 and accordingly is not further described.

In FIGURE 12a of the accompanying drawings is shown a modification of the structure of FIGURE 12 in which the external cylinder 84 is replaced by an internal cylinder 90, which is bonded to the rubber cylinder 80 and which includes a flange 91 covering the lower edge of the rubber tube 80. The nut 77 is bonded to the cylinder 90, and is thus not free to turn. In the alternative, the nut 91 is unbonded, but becomes sufiiciently held by friction when the bolt 75 is sufficiently turned up, as to be held immovable and irrotatable, so that the tube 80 may be compressed as in the system of FIGURE 12.

Similarly, in the system of FIGURE 13b, which constitutes a modification of the system of FIGURE 13, the head of the bolt is placed under and at the lower end of the cylinder 80. In such case an internal insert 94 is provided which includes skirts 95 extending over and shaped to conform with the head 76 of the bolt. In addition a pin 97 is run through the skirts below the head 76 of the bolt 75 to hold the bolt and prevent its falling through. When it is desired to move the expansion bolt of FIGURE 13b from a hole, the pin 97 serves as a reaction point against which the threaded end 78 of the bolt may be pressed to effect extension of the cylinder 80 and consequently its lateral contraction. When the cylinder 80 has been sufficiently contracted it loses contact with the inside of the hole 70 and can be readily removed.

Referring now to FIGURE 20 of the drawings, there is shown a gangplank 100, which may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as wood or metal and which is secured to and supported on a pair of parallel pipes 101, 102 located under the gangplank at the edges thereof. Pipes 101, 102 may be secured at one end to a sea wall 103 and at its other end may rest on a floating dock. The sea wall 103 is merely typical of a stationary structure to which the gangplank may be secured.

Bolted to the sea wall 103, and specifically to a vertical wall 104 thereon, is a pair of fittings 105. Bolting may be accomplished by means of expansion bolts 106 constructed in accordance with the teachings of FIGURES l2, 13, 12a, 13a, extending through a plate 107 which rests flush with the wall 104. From plate 107 extend two arms 108, 109, which extends generally perpendicularly of the wall 104, or at some convenient relatively small angle. The arms 108, 109, terminate in bearings 110, 111 which are stationary. Intermediate the bearings 110, 111 is a rotary bearing or member 112 which is secured to the pipe 101 as by a bolt 113 extending through a stub integral with the bearing 112 and having a cylindrical recess into which an end of the pipe 101 may extend.

A square shaft 114 may extend entirely through the bearings 110, 111 and 112, and may be separated from the latter by rubber torsion shock absorbing elements, which are bonded onto the shaft and/or which fit snugly about the shaft and are irrotatable with respect thereto, and which are also arranged to be irrotatable with respect to the bearings. Accordingly, any attempted rotation of the shaft due to vertical motion of the gangplank is counteracted or tends to be counteracted by torsion generated in the rubber sleeves. Any translational shocks imparted to the gangplank do not, however, tend to be isolated from the see wall 103 due to the incompressibility of the rubber inserts. Details of the torsion mount are illustrated in FIGURES 26-29, inclusive.

The gangplank will obviously be subjected to sea motions, i.e. that end of the gangplank which rests on the dock will rise and fall and will be subjected to lateral and twisting motions forces. All these motions and forces, except those in torsion, are isolated from the fittings 105, and therefore form the sea wall 103, as will appear. There is consequently no tendency to rip the fittings away from the sea wall or to damage the fittings. In conventional practice, where rigid fittings are utilized, it has been found that fittings do not have a long life. By shock mounting the fittings torsionally, and by further procedures hereinafter described, it has been found that these have indefinite life even under the most difficult operating conditions.

In FIGURES 22, 23 and 24 is illustrated a vertical boat fender, arranged to be mounted on a dock, as 1. The fender, identified by the reference numeral 120, includes a vertical rod 121, which is located outboard of the side of the dock 1, and against which the bulkhead of a boat may impinge. The rod 121 extends below the upper surface of the dock 1 and upwardly to a height of perhaps six feet, so that it can serve as a fender for large or small boats. The rod 121 may be a hollow pipe made of polyvinyl chloride, but the material of which the rod 121 is made is not critical so long as the material can stand the required shocks. In one specific embodiment 9 which has been extensively tested in practice the rod 121 was a polyethylene pipe.

Welded or bolted to the rod 121 is a horizontal bracket 123, which is secured to the surface of the dock 1 by means of a pair of sheer mounts 124, 125. The bracket 123 extends back perpendicularly of the side of the dock and parallel to the surface of the dock. The shear mounts employed are constituted of two parallel plates 126, 127 (FIGURE 22a) between which is located a rubber or neoprene block 128, which is bonded to the adjacent surfaces of the plates 126, 127. From the exterior surfaces of the plates 126, 127 extends studs 129, 129, which may be threaded, :and may serve to secure the shear mount to a hole internally of the clock 1 and to the bracket 123. Associated with the stud 129 may be an expansion bolt, as in FIGURE 12, while the stud 129 may be an ordinary threaded stud. Located on either side of the forward shear mount 125 are standards 130, 131, which are bolted to the dock by means of flanges 132 and expansion bolts 133 extending therethrough into the dock. At the upper ends of the standards 130, 131, are secured shear mounts 135 and 136, having horizontally spaced plates, which in turn are secured to the vertical rod 121 by means of a metallic U-shaped bracket 137. The ends of the arms of the latter are secured to the upper ends of standards 130, 131, and the base or center to the rod or pipe 121.

In operation the rod 121 may be impacted by a boat at any point along its length. If it is impacted above the location of the bracket 137 the shear mounts 135, 136 give rearwardly while the shear mounts 124, 125 are pulled forwardly. If the rod or pipe 121 is impacted intermediate the bracket 123 and the bracket 137 all the shear mounts are pressed backwardly as seen in FIGURE 24. If the rod or pipe 121 is impacted below the bracket 123 the shear mounts 124, 125 are pushed backwardly while the shear mounts 135, 136 are pulled forwardly. Accordingly, the connection of the rod 121 to the dock is shock mounted for any point of impact of the bolt against the rod 121, assuming that the impact is directly backward, i.e. in the direction of the arrow 133. However, the impact may occur at any angle. In such case the shear mounts 124, 125, 135 and 136 may each be moved in shear in a different way; for example, impact from the right may cause the shear mount 135 to move rearwardly while the shear mount 136 moves forwardly. Each of the shear mounts is free to move independently of the others, except insofar as it is mounted on a common bracket with one other shear mount. The shear mounts 124 and 125 may move in opposite directions parallel to the length of the dock, i.e. in the direction of the arrow 139, while the shear mounts 135 and 136 may move in the direction of the arrows 138, but either in the same or in opposite senses. In general shear mounts of the type described :are hard or rigid in compression. Accordingly any tendency of the rod 121 to move vertically due to friction or impact of the boat, is translated into tilting of the rod 121 since the shear mounts 124, 125 in such case do not give, but the shock mounts 135, 136 can give in shear.

The great freedoms which exist in respect to the rod 121, which can move or be moved in any direction in response to impact by a boat, becomes available because of the use of four shock mounts which are oriented in pairs at right angles to each other and which are linearly spaced from each other by a considerable distance.

Experience has taught that the fender 120 is capable of absorbing shocks due to large boats regardless of the peculiarities of the motions of the boats under the actions of a sea, of surges or of waves, or of the impact of such a boat in coming to the dock, and regardless of the character of the mot-ion of the boat or of the concurrent motion of the dock, where that occurs.

In FIGURES 25 and 26 is illustrated a mode of securing a dock to a sea wall or other stationary object. The

10 dock is shown at and the gangplank 151 leads from the dock to the sea wall, the gangplank being mounted in accordance with the present invention. The dock 150 is spaced from the sea wall 152 by means of rigid poles 153, 154, which are secured to the sea wall by means of torsion mounts 155 and 156 constructed in accordance with the teachings of FIGURES 27-29 inclusive, and are secured to the dock 150 by means of special shock mounts providing shear shock absorption in three dimensions and also providing torsion shock absorption.

The shock mounts 157, 158 are secured to the clock by their upper surface along a longitudinal axis thereof, i.e. midway between the sides of the dock. Secured to the mounts 157, 158 are cables 160, 161 which extend to the sea wall 152 and which are there secured by means of any suitable fastenings 163 and 164. The latter fastenings may be rigid, but the point of attachment of the cable and the cable 161 to the shock mount fittings 157 and 158 are provided via shock mountings. The cable 160 and the cable 161 may make an angle with the longitudinal axis of the dock, or with respect to the poles 153 and 154. The latter may extend perpendicularly of the longitudinal axis of the dock 150 whereas the cables 160 and 161 may occupy an angle of approximately 45, although the precise angle utilized is not essential to the invention, and other angles may be suitably employed.

The fact that shock mounts 157 and 158 are mounted on the longitudinal axis of the dock 150 implies that the dock is permitted by the shock mount to oscillate about its longitudinal axis. The fact that the dock 150 is spaced from the sea wall 152 by rigid poles 153 and 154 implies that the dock cannot recede from or approach the sea wall 152, but the presence of torsion mounts 155, 156 implies that the dock can rise and fall as a whole. Were the dock restrained solely by the poles 153 and 154, longitudinal motion of the dock would be feasible, which would rip the poles 153, 154 from their mountings. To prevent this the cables 160, 161 are provided. These assure that the dock cannot move longitudinally in gross. The extent to which the clock can, in fact, move is solely that permitted by the shock mounts.

Reference is made to FIGURES 30, 31 and 32 for details of the latter. In FIGURES 30, 31 and 32 is illustrated a shock mounting 158, which is a mirror image of the shock mounting 157 so that exposition of one of these will serve for both. The shock mounting 158 includes a horizontal plate 180, which is shock mounted by means of shear mounts 181 and 182 at two separated points to a dock 150. The latter is viewed in plan in FIGURE 30, and accordingly the shock mounts extend vertically, but provide shock absorption in shear, i.e. horizontally. Specifically, the plate can move as a whole backwardly or forwardly as seen in FIGURE 30, or can move about a vertical axis, in which case one of the shock mounts may move rearwardly while the other is moving forwardly. A bracket 185 is provided which is secured by means of expansion bolts 186 and 187 to a vertical face of the dock 150, and includes a shelf which extends horizontally. To the latter is secured a shock mount 188 operative in shear and extending vertically upward from the shelf. To the shock mount 188 is secured a U-shaped casting 190 having its open element facing vertically upward, the casting 190 being rigidly secured to the bracket or plate 180. In the open element of the U is secured a torsion mount 191, including a hexagonal shaft 192 which is secured to the casting 190 by cover plates 193 and bolts 194. Mounted on the square shaft 192 between the arms of the U-shape casting 190 is a metallic cylinder 195 having a torsion element internally thereof which grips the square shaft 192, and the cylinder 195, so that the cylindrical element 191 can rotate with respect to square shaft 192 only to an extent permitted by the resilience of the torsion element. The torsion mount provided by the torsion element, the square shaft, the mounting for the shaft and the outer metallic cylinder 195, includes a stub extension 197 to which is rigidly secured, by means of a bolt 198, the pipe 154 (FIG. 25). Accordingly, the vertical position of the U-shaped casting 190 is fixed with respect to the dock, as is also the vertical position of the plate or bracket 180. However, motion in the horizontal plane of the casting 190 is permitted in any direction since the shear mounts 181, 182 and 188 permit horizontal motion in all direc tions. The pipe 151 is further permitted to oscillate about the center line of the square shaft 192. This oscillation permits oscillation of the dock 150 about its longitudinal axis, whereas the shear mounts permit movement of the dock 150 toward and away from the sea wall, or laterally of the sea wall, i.e. the shear mounts permit play of the dock 150 with respect to the poles 154. The cable 160, which is secured at one end to a fitting 163 secured rigidly to the sea wall, is secured at its other end to a fitting 190' secured to the U-shaped casting 190. The U-shaped casting 190 can move with respect to the dock 150 by virtue of the shear mountings 181, 182 and 188, so that the end of the cable 161 has some play, on a shock mounted basis, with respect to the dock.

Rise and fall of the dock as a whole is permitted by the torsion shock mounts 155 and 157 on one side of the dock and sea wall 152, and by torsion shock mounts 156 and 158 on the other side, while oscillation about a longitudinal six is permitted by the torsion shock mounts 157 and 158 alone. These latter are mounted on a longitudinal center line of dock 150 to freely permit such oscillation. Lateral and backward and forward motion of the docks is permitted by the shear mounts 181, 182, 188, and similarly any combination of forward, rearward and lateral motion is permitted by these same shear mounts. Oscillation about a vertical axis is also permitted, since the shear mounts 157, 158 can shear in opposite senses simultaneously, being in this respect independent of one other. So far as gross movement is concerned, on the other hand, the dock 150 is held rigidly by the pipes 153, 154 and by the cable 160, 161, against movement either laterally or backwardly and forwardly.

In FIGURE 26 is indicated a mode of securing the end of a dock, as 183, to a sea wall, as 152. In such case only a single pole 153 is utilized to effect lateral spacing, and a pair of cables 160 and 161 to anchor the dock laterally. A torsion mount 155 is employed on the sea wall, and a shear-torsion mount, 157, at the dock end of pole 153.

In FIGURES 26, 27 and 28 of the drawings is illustrated a sea-wall torsion mount 155 appropriate to securing a dock, as 150, to a sea wall 152. The problem is then presented that the dock has been completed previously and includes poles 153, 154 mounted thereto so that the sea wall end of poles 153, 154 must 'be secured to the sea wall, while the dock 150 is floating free.

The sea wall torsion mount 155 (or 156) includes a face plate 200, secured against the side of the sea wall 152 by means of a plurality of expansion bolts 201. Extending horizon-tally from the face plate 200 as a pair of separated but parallel brackets 202, 203. The ends of a square metallic shaft 204 are clamped against the brackets 202, 203 by cover plates 205, 206, which are bolted to the brackets 202, 203, as by bolts 207 extending through the cover plates 205, 206 and the brackets 202, 203.

Extending about the square shaft 204, but not bonded thereto, is a nylon sleeve, 207, conforming to the shape of the shaft 204 internally, but circular externally.

A rubber torsion sleeve 208 having a cylindrical outer surface and inner surface, is bonded to the outer surface of the nylon sleeve, 207, and also to the inner surface of a nylon fitting 209 having a square external shape, and which in turn fits snugly, but in unbonded relation, within a conforming metallic fitting 210. From the latter, in a direction perpendicularly of square shaft 204, extends a hollow stub, 211, within which is secured, as by bolt 212, an end of the pole 153.

The square metallic shaft then bears directly entirely on nylon, which is tough. The outer metallic fitting 210 also bears entirely on nylon. The rubber torsion element 208 is cylindrical, interiorly and exteriorly, is resilient in torsion but not in compression, and is held between the nylon elements 207', 209, being bonded thereto.

It will be appreciated that the construction of the torsion element can be utilized at (FIGURE 20) or 191, FIGURES 30, 31, 32, and also that torsion elements can be included between brackets 202, 203 and cover plates 205, 206, in securing the ends of shaft 204 thereto. The shape of the shafts, as 204, 192, etc. can be shaped other than square, for example hexagonal. It is only essential that the shaft be irrotatable with respect to its nylon bushing.

While I have described and illustrated one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be clear that variations of the details of construction which are specifically illustrated and described may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A boat fender for an edge of a dock consisting of an inflated elongated tubular member of a single integral sheet of resilient material having a shape in cross-section compounded of approximately 270 of a circle completed by planar members of said material forming walls extending generally toward the center of said circle and meeting at an angle with respect to each other, a metal plate disposed entirely within each of said planar members, said metal plates serving as mounting plates for securing said fender to a clock.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said metal plates are integral with one another.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,179,125 ll/l939 Kirlin 114-219 2,227,581 1/1941 Henderson 20-74 2,722,906 11/ 1955 Tweddell 114219 2,844,943 7/ 1958 Kennedy 61-48 2,959,146 ll/1960 Erkert 1142l9 2,935,855 5/1960 Reid 61-48 3,084,517 4/1963 Bell 61-48 FOREIGN PATENTS 374,088 6/1932 Great Britain. 532,304 1/1941 Great Britain.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner, I. SHAPIRO, Examiner. 

1. A BOAT FENDER FOR AN EDGE OF A DOCK CONSISTING OF AN INFLATED ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER OF A SINGLE INTEGRAL SHEET OF RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVING A SHAPE IN CROSS-SECTION COMPOUNDED OF APPROXIMATELY 270* OF A CIRCLE COMPLETED BY PLANAR MEMBERS OF SAID MATERIAL FORMING WALLS EXTENDING GENERALLY TOWARD THE CENTER OF SAID CIRCLE AND MEETING AT AN ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, A METAL PLATE DISPOSED ENTIRELY WITHIN EACH OF SAID PLANAR MEMBERS, SAID METAL PLATES SERVING AS MOUNTING PLATES FOR SECURING SAID FENDER TO A DOCK. 